After a busy and successful summer of sporting action across all 17 sports on the Games programme, athletes from four sports have now produced the necessary performances to lay claim to a coveted place on the Team, for what promises to be an amazing home Games.

In September, Scottish Athletics had 23 athletes named alongside four squash players. Then a month later, eight shooters and one triathlete joined them and a total of 21 will make their Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow. Of the 36 selected so far, 20 are women.

Making the announcement Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Jon Doig said: “I am

First athletes selected for Glasgow 2014 There was much excitement when with only 300 days to go until the start of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) announced the first athletes to be selected to represent Team Scotland.

extremely pleased that Team Scotland selection is now underway with the first 36 athletes booking their places for Glasgow. We have witnessed some amazing performances from athletes this summer, striving to secure their places to compete at our home Games next year.

“Congratulations to all of them. They can now go into their winter training period fully focused on reaching their peak next July in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. I am also confident that over the next nine months they will be joined by a record number of fellow Scots, as we aim to have our largest and most successful team ever at Glasgow 2014.”

The first athletes with their names inked on the team sheet were marathon runners Susan Partridge and Derek Hawkins, who posted the required times back in April at the London Marathon. Whilst on the track Scotland’s women have had a stellar season with 2010 silver medallist 400m hurdler Eilidh Child, Eilish McColgan in the steeplechase and Laura Muir at 800m and 1500m all making their mark in international competition.

Scotland’s 800m champion Guy Learmonth posted two late-season

qualifying standard performances after missing out on the European U23 Championships earlier in the summer and is one of only two men’s track representatives announced so far, along with USA based Chris O’Hare in the 1500m.

Team Scotland is also set to be well represented on the track in the Para-Sport events for the very first time. Libby Clegg will compete in the T12 100m and would love to add to her collection of major championship medals when she makes her debut for Scotland in Glasgow. Libby won silver at the Paralympics in London and then two more at the IPC World Championships in Lyon over 100m and 200m this summer.

20-year-old Meggan Dawson-Farrell is an established world-class wheelchair athlete who will compete in the T54 1500m, where she will be joined by 17-year-old Samantha Kinghorn, the youngest athlete to be selected so far. Sammi’s achievements since taking up the sport 12 months ago are nothing short of remarkable, going from a beginner to a fully fledged international ranked second in Europe in her T53 classification. She will compete up a classification in Glasgow.Samantha

Kinghorn

Jon Doig and Elinor Middlemiss celebrate with the first selected athletes

COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCOTLAND NEWSLETTER ISSUE 21 – WINTER 2013

The growing strength of Scottish athletes in field events shows in the 11 athletes who also booked their places. They include three hammer throwers, with Mark Dry heading the Commonwealth rankings; four high jumpers; two long jumpers and the new Scottish record holder in the pole vault, Jax Thoirs. 18-year-old Nick Percy from the Isle of Wight, a double Commonwealth Youth Games medallist from 2011, qualifies in the discus, having successfully stepped up to senior level.

The four squash players confirmed, have great experience particularly in doubles events, with three of them having represented Team Scotland before at a total of five Commonwealth Games. After finishing just outside the medals in Delhi, they are determined to go at least one better. Alan Clyne will compete in all three events including the men’s singles, whilst Harry Leitch and Alex Clark will compete in doubles and Frania Gillen-Buchert in women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

The strength of Scotland’s shooters is evident, with six of the eight athletes announced having contributed to all nine shooting medals won at Delhi 2010, helping shooting to finish as Scotland’s top sport at the Games.

Heading the shooting line-up are the most successful male and female athletes overall from Delhi 2010, in Jonathan Hammond and Jennifer McIntosh. They won an impressive total of seven medals between them in small bore rifle events including four gold. Both went on to represent Team GB at London 2012 and they are hoping for another successful hopme Games next year, despite pairs events being removed thereby reducing medal opportunities.

Other shooters selected include Delhi medallists Neil Stirton who won gold and bronze in the 50m rifle prone pairs and 50m rifle 3 position pairs (with Jonathan Hammond), building on his silver medal from the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Ian

Shaw and Angus McLeod who took silver in the full bore rifle pairs in Delhi have

also booked their passage.

Alford’s Shona Marshall who took silver in the clay target trap event in Delhi has assured her place following two World Cup top eight finishes this year. She has been a regular contender on the Great Britain team over the last two years, just missing out on London 2012.

Caroline Brownlie will make her second Games appearance in Glasgow in the 10m air pistol, having secured her place in June when she set a new Scottish record on

the way to winning the British Pistol Club Championships. She also got her first GB call-up this year.

Sian Bruce is the only new face amongst the shooters announced so far. The 20 year old from Dundee will make her Games debut in the clay target skeet event. Sian

36 SELECTED ATHLETES

ATHLETICS (23):Susan Partridge, Marathon; Derek Hawkins, Marathon; Libby Clegg, T12 100m; Eilidh Child, 400m Hurdles; Guy Learmonth 800m; Chris O’Hare 1500m; Laura Muir, 1500m; Meggan Dawson-Farrell, T54 1500m; Samantha Kinghorn, T54 1500m; Eilish McColgan 3000m Steeplechase; Laura Whittle, 5000m; Stephanie Twell, 5000m; Mark Dry, Hammer; Andrew Frost, Hammer; Susan McKelvie, Hammer; Nicholas Percy, Discus; Allan Smith, High Jump; David Smith, High Jump; Jayne Nisbet, High Jump; Emma Nuttall, High Jump; Jade Nimmo, Long Jump; Sarah Warnock, Long Jump; Jax Thoirs, Pole Vault; Women’s 4x400m Relay

SQUASH (4):Alan Clyne, Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles; Harry Leitch, Men’s Doubles; Frania Gillen-Buchert, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles; Alexandra Clark, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles

SHOOTING (8):Jonathan Hammond, Small Bore Rifle - 50m Rifle 3P; Neil Stirton, Small Bore Rifle - 50m Rifle Prone ; Jennifer McIntosh, Small Bore Rifle - 10m Air Rifle & 50m Rifle 3P; Caroline Brownlie, Pistol -10m Air Pistol; Shona Marshall, Clay Target - Trap; Sian Bruce, Clay Target - Skeet; Angus McLeod, Full Bore Rifle – Queen’s Prize Individual & Pairs; Ian Shaw, Full Bore Rifle – Queen’s Prize Individual & Pairs

TRIATHLON (1):David McNamee, Individual Standard Race

Sian Bruce

was European U21 Champion in 2010 and finished 7th at both U21 World and European Championships this year in what will be her last year as a junior.

Triathlon makes a welcome return to the Commonwealth Games for a third time in Glasgow, having first been included on the programme in Manchester 2002, then in Melbourne 2006. For Glasgow 2014 an exciting new mixed team relay event will follow the individual men’s and women’s races, which are the first medal events of the Games on day one.

Scotland number one, David McNamee, has had an outstanding 2013 posting three top ten finishes in the Triathlon ITU World Championship Series and has been rewarded with early selection as a result. Originally from Irvine and an Accountancy graduate from the University of Stirling, David now trains down in Leeds as part of the GB programme with the world’s top two triathletes, the Brownlie brothers who look set to be wearing England vests next July.

Jennifer McIntosh

David McNamee

The next athlete selections will take place in March 2014 building towards the full team announcement on 12 June just over a month before the Games.

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In October over 40 Team officials including sport team managers, coaches, medical, media staff and general team management conducted the second of our site visits to Glasgow and the satellite area at Barry Buddon.

Looking great at the Games!Team Scotland plans to have a stunning new look, when as the home team we are last to enter Celtic Park for the Opening Ceremony on 23 July 2014.

Internationally known textile designer and artist, Jilli Blackwood has been commissioned by CGS to bring some contemporary style and flair to the parade uniforms and ensure that when the eyes of the world are on Scotland they live up to expectations.

The process has involved extensive athlete consultation and the specially designed team tartan is now being woven at a secret location in the north of Scotland. CGS has ensured that all the uniform has been sourced in Scotland, from design to final production.

Plans are also well underway for the team’s leisurewear and earlier this year ASICS, the performance sportswear brand, were announced as the supplier of official Team Scotland kit.

They have been commissioned to produce a range of high quality teamwear, which will be worn by athletes, coaches and support staff. The technical apparel range has a strong appearance with distinctive ‘Saltire’ blue, and white lead colours, in-keeping with Team Scotland’s heritage.

The range supplied to the team aims to meet all the leisure requirements of our athletes including the team tracksuit which will be proudly worn during medal ceremonies.

Glasgow visit sees team preparations progress

critical in maintaining the positive working relationships developed so far and ensuring our requirements are understood, as well as highlighting what will also be of importance to other CGAs.

Also of significant importance is the ability to develop and live out our team ethos, ensuring that 17 sports perform as one team in Glasgow. Commenting, Jon Doig, Chef De Mission said: ”It was particularly pleasing to see that a number of points made at our previous visit in May 2013 have been picked up and addressed by Glasgow 2014 staff. Lessons from London 2012 show that the home Games advantage is not automatic and it is critical we understand how the very familiar environment of the Glasgow Games will change come Games time so we can make the necessary adaptations.”

The second round of Mission 2014 meetings with sports and the sportscotland Institute of Sport have also been completed this autumn, enabling financial, personnel and equipment resources to be targeted effectively.

Opposition revealed for hockey and netballFollowing the official draws by the international federations of netball and hockey, Team Scotland now know who they will face in the preliminary group phase of their respective competitions at Glasgow 2014 next summer.

In netball Scotland was drawn in Pool A alongside New Zealand, Jamaica, Malawi, Northern Ireland and St Lucia and will play as follows:

Day 2 Fri 25 July 17.00-18.30 Scotland v St LuciaDay 3 Sat 26 July 11.30-13.00 Scotland v New ZealandDay 4 Sun 27 July 09.30-11.00 Jamaica v Scotland Day 6 Tues 29 July 19.00-20.30 Malawi v Scotland Day 7 Wed 30 July 17.00-18.30 Scotland v Northern Ireland

In hockey there are tough draws for the men’s and women’s team, with Australia the dominant force in Commonwealth Games to be faced by both at the purpose built Glasgow Hockey Centre.

Day 2 Fri 25 July 11.00-12.30 South Africa v Scotland - Men 16.00–17.30 Scotland v Malaysia - WomenDay 3 Sat 26 July 16.00-17.30 India v Scotland - MenDay 4 Sun 27 July 09.00-10.30 Scotland v Australia - Women Day 5 Mon 28 July 11.00-12.30 Scotland v Wales - Men 16.00-17.30 Wales v Scotland - Women Day 7 Wed 30 July 09.00-10.30 Scotland v England - WomenDay 8 Thurs 31 July 14.00-15.30 Australia v Scotland - Men

The purpose of the visit was to review preparations for the Games and input into discussions with key Glasgow 2014 personnel. The visit also provided the opportunity for a focus on the development of team policies and procedures and our team vision of 17 Sports One Team.

Reflecting the importance of a well functioning village environment to team performance, this visit included an extensive viewing of the accommodation assigned to Team Scotland. This has now enabled us to confirm a number of requests relating to provision of support for our Para-Sport athletes, our team HQ, medical and media requirements. The meetings with counterparts across the Glasgow 2014 functional areas are

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The Queen’s Baton RelayUnveiled, en route and coming to a place near you!

Since 1958, the Queen’s Baton Relay has been an integral part of the Commonwealth Games. The baton’s journey symbolises the unity and shared ideals of the Commonwealth of Nations, and enables communities beyond the Host City to share the Games celebrations and for Glasgow 2014 the plans are bolder and better than ever before.

In 1958, for the VI British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Her Majesty The Queen handed over at Buckingham Palace, a specially designed baton, containing her message to be carried by a series of runners to Cardiff. It was presented at the Opening Ceremony and the message read to all assembled in the stadium and it is now an integral part of every Games.

The baton for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games was unveiled in

August at Glasgow’s Riverside Museum, when it was formally presented to Lord Smith of Kelvin, Chairman of Glasgow 2014, by Scotland’s most successful Commonwealth Games athlete of all time and Glasgow 2014 Ambassador, Allan Wells MBE. Significantly, Allan was the final batonbearer at the last Commonwealth Games on Scottish soil in Edinburgh in 1986.

The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s baton was designed by Glasgow-based 4c Design and it embodies Glasgow and Scotland’s culture, history and innovation. At the heart of the baton is the Queen’s message, inscribed on a parchment scroll and held in a transparent cylinder within a pure titanium latticework frame. It is illuminated from within by LED lights, yet unreadable until the Opening Ceremony.

The lattice frame takes inspiration from Glasgow’s rich industrial and architectural heritage, whilst the baton’s handle is made of elm wood sourced from the Isle of Cumbrae – a tribute to Scotland’s natural resources. And to top it off, the baton contains a granite ‘gemstone’ from Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde which will be gifted to each nation and territory.

Her Majesty The Queen launched the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay on its global journey on 9 October in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace attended by some of Scotland’s greatest athletes, inspirational young people and senior representatives from across the Commonwealth.

Crowds gathered outside the Palace as the celebrations began when Sir Chris Hoy, six-time Olympic gold medallist and double Commonwealth champion was the baton’s special escort. He made the processional journey to the ceremony accompanied by the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards and the 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Once again sprint legend Allan Wells MBE was at the forefront of proceedings and was the first athlete to receive the baton from The Queen and he was joined by honorary batonbearer Monica Dzonzi, UNICEF youth ambassador from Malawi. It was then passed to further batonbearers

representing Team Scotland: Olympic swimmer and double Commonwealth gold medallist Caitlin McLatchey; gymnast and Olympic bronze medallist Daniel Purvis along with young athletes from the Glasgow School of Sport: gymnast Cara Kennedy; triple jumper Morgan McKinnon; swimmer Ruairi Kirkwood.

The baton then spent the following day in Scotland where other prospective Team Scotland athletes helped to announce the route it will take around Scotland next June. It then left from Glasgow Airport for Delhi – host city of the 2010 Commonwealth Games and onwards to visit every nation and territory of the Commonwealth over a 288 day journey, covering more than 118,000 miles. The baton is relayed on its journey by Emirates, the Official Airline of the Queen’s Baton Relay and an Official Partner of Glasgow 2014.

Allan Wells MBE with honorary batonbearer Monica Dzonzi, UNICEF

youth ambassador from Malawi

Daniel Purvis

Sir Chris Hoy

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Day Relay Date Local Authority Key1 Sat 14 June City of Edinburgh 12 Sun 15 June West Lothian 23 Mon 16 June Midlothian 34 Tue 17 June East Lothian 45 Wed 18 June Scottish Borders 56 Thu 19 June Dumfries & Galloway 67 Fri 20 June South Ayrshire 78 Sat 21 June East Ayrshire 89 Sun 22 June South Lanarkshire 910 Mon 23 June North Lanarkshire 1011 Tue 24 June Falkirk 1112 Wed 25 June Clackmannanshire 1213 Thu 26 June Fife 1314 Fri 27 June Dundee City 14

2

4

6

7

9

13

14

15

16

25

28

5

3

8

10

11

12

22

23

24

26

27

29

19

20

17

30

21

18

13132

From England

Day Relay Date Local Authority Key15 Sat 28 June Angus 1516 Sun 29 June Aberdeenshire 1617 Mon 30 June Aberdeen City 1718 Tue 1 July Shetland Islands 1819 Wed 2 July Transition* -20 Thu 3 July Moray 1921 Fri 4 July Perth & Kinross 2022 Sat 5 July Transition* -23 Sun 6 July Stirling 2124 Mon 7 July Transition* -25 Tue 8 July Eilean Siar, 22 Comhairle nan26 Wed 9 July Transition* -27 Thu 10 July Orkney Islands 23

Day Relay Date Local Authority Key28 Fri 11 July Highland 2429 Sat 12 July Transition* -30 Sun 13 July Argyll and Bute 2531 Mon 14 July Inverclyde 2632 Tue 15 July North Ayrshire 2733 Wed 16 July East Renfrewshire 2834 Thu 17 July Renfrewshire 2935 Fri 18 July West Dunbartonshire 3036 Sat 19 July East Dunbartonshire 3137 Sun 20 July Glasgow City 3238 Mon 21 July Glasgow City 3239 Tue 22 July Glasgow City 3240 Wed 23 July Glasgow City – 32 Opening Ceremony

Chairman’s viewIt is with great excitement that we look forward to 2014 and the culmination of 12 years of planning by CGS.

I have no doubt that Glasgow will be a fantastic Games and with Team Scotland selection underway, you can be assured we are doing everything possible to create the ideal environment for our team to perform with distinction and have our most successful Games next summer.

We continue to work closely with the sportscotland Institute of Sport, focused on delivering high quality support services to our athletes, including at our pre-Games Preparation Camp at the University of Stirling.

We are particularly delighted that Sir Chris Hoy has agreed to work with Team Scotland in a mentoring role. As our greatest Olympian of all time, he will provide a unique insight and understanding of the pressures involved in performing at the highest level and I am sure our athletes will find his input both invaluable and inspirational. He will be supported by a number of other former team members.

Public support for the Games and for Team Scotland is vital, and the 40 days of the Queen’s Baton Relay in Scotland, hosted by CGS working closely with Glasgow 2014 and supported by sportscotland and all 32 local authorities, will provide a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and promote community sport, encouraging the Scottish public to get

behind their team.

Finally I would like to thank all our sponsors, SGBs and partners for their continued support and we look forward to a fulfilling and successful journey together over the coming months.

From 14 June 2014 and for the following 40 days, the Queen’s baton will travel to all parts of the nation, visiting every local authority area. From the spires of Edinburgh to the peaks of the Highlands; from Border woodlands to island beaches, the Queen’s Baton Relay offers everyone the chance to be a part of the excitement, celebrations and countdown to Scotland’s biggest-ever sporting and cultural festival, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Around 100 batonbearers will carry the baton each day with the relay reaching more than 400 communities. The relay will reflect the important role sport plays in the community by visiting schools, sporting facilities and leisure centres and through a range of events and activities supported by the sportscotland Active Schools Network. The support is focused on encouraging communities to get behind the team, get involved with the Games and use its profile to get more people participating in sport. Check out the route to find the nearest baton location to you and show your support for Team Scotland!

This epic journey will come to an end on 23 July 2014 at the Opening Ceremony of the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. We will all wait with anticipation to see who will be the final batonbearer in this Commonwealth-wide celebration.

The final lap of the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay will be its last 40 days travelling the length and breadth of Scotland.

Team Scotland hopefuls Russell Weir, Marc Austin, Ross Murdoch and Bev Campbell at the route announcement

CGS Chairman Michael Cavanagh

THE RELAY ROUTE

*Denotes a transition from one local authority to another 5

The dinner is one of the highlights of the Scottish sporting calendar and recognises the achievements of Scotland’s athletes in member sports over the past 12 months. This year was also a celebration of the work of CGS and Glasgow 2014, as we look forward to next year’s home Games with huge enthusiasm and excitement. It was also a chance to publicly congratulate the first 36 athletes selected for Team Scotland.

In July, Andy Murray won the 2013 Wimbledon Championships becoming the first British man to do so since Fred Perry, 77 years previously and the first Scot to do so since 1896. This followed an outstanding 2012, in which he won the US Open and Olympic singles titles as well as an Olympic silver medal in the mixed doubles. In the 2013 New Year Honours, Murray was awarded an OBE for services to tennis.

Murray received two Business Class flights to Dubai courtesy of Award sponsor Emirates – the Official Airline Partner of Glasgow 2014 and a cheque for £1000 which he kindly donated to the Scottish Commonwealth Games Youth Trust.

Borderer Libby Clegg, running with guide Mikhail Huggins in the T12 Para-Sport Athletics classification, matched her 2012 Paralympic 100m silver at the 2013 IPC World Athletics Championships and also won silver in the 200m. Libby ended the season as the top ranked Commonwealth

athlete in the 100m and is targeting the same spot next summer.

Historic Wimbledon win secures Emirates Lonsdale Trophy for MurrayAfter an unparalleled year for tennis player Andy Murray, he was named Scottish Sportsperson of the Year 2013 and awarded the Emirates Lonsdale Trophy for the second year running, at the CGS Awards dinner in Glasgow in November. He beat off stiff competition from three other finalists: Para-Sport sprinter Libby Clegg, canoeist David Florence and bowls pair Alex Marshall MBE and Paul Foster.

Support Team Scotland in true style

Sports fans have the chance to support Team Scotland in style with the launch of a new leisurewear collection launched by Glasgow 2014.

Athletes Charline Joiner, Samantha Kinghorn and Guy Learmonth were all given a sneak preview of the stylish merchandise which includes tee-shirts, hoodies and polo-shirts and gave it the collective thumbs up.

Cyclist Charline, a team sprint silver medallist from Delhi 2010, and aiming to represent Team Scotland in Glasgow in endurance track events said: “It was great to have a preview of the range and it will be fantastic to see members of the public wearing the Team Scotland clothing. ”

Wheelchair racer Sammi Kinghorn, who has already had her selection confirmed and will make her Games debut in 2014, said: “For my first Games to be a home Games will be a really special experience for me. Seeing people wearing the Team Scotland range will be a real boost for the host nation athletes and is a great way of showing support.”

Scottish 800m champion, Guy Learmonth, who is also selected and looking forward to his first Games, said: “This new range of Team Scotland merchandise is brilliant. It would be incredible to see people lending their support by wearing it.”

Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: “We are delighted with the exciting new range of Team Scotland merchandise that has been produced by Glasgow 2014 in our traditional team colours and bearing our distinctive logo. It is the perfect opportunity for the whole of Scotland to get behind the team, show their support and play their part in the Team’s success.

The full range is available online from the official Glasgow 2014 shop at www.shop.glasgow2014.com

Samantha Kinghorn, Guy Learmonth and

Charline Joiner

David Florence has won numerous World and European medals in canoe slalom including Olympic silver in 2008 and 2012. But in September 2013 at the World Championships in Prague he surpassed these achievements winning not one but two world championships titles, the first time the double has ever been done at this event.

Alex Marshall MBE and Paul Foster who won gold in the pairs event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, are the current outdoor pairs World Champions. In January 2013 they also retained the pairs World Indoor Championships. This is the first time in the history of the sport that one pair have held both indoor and outdoor world titles simultaneously, cementing their standing as the most successful pairing in bowls history.

Announcing the award, CGS Chairman Michael Cavanagh said: “2013 has been another incredible year for Scotland’s top sportsmen and women and I am delighted that Emirates are supporting the Lonsdale trophy again this year so we can fully recognise their achievements. All five shortlisted athletes gave performances which would make them worthy winners; but Andy Murray’s long awaited Wimbledon victory clearly had the edge, as well as the whole country on the edge of their seats!”

Next year, the inaugural Sir Peter Heatly Trophy will be awarded to the outstanding Young Sportsperson of the Year.

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‘Achieve 2014’ will mentor young sports stars of the future, using Glasgow 2014 as a learning experience and a springboard for their emerging talent.

Developed and managed by CGS and supported by Search Consultancy – Glasgow 2014’s official recruitment agency – the Achieve programme will identify promising young athletes from a range of different Commonwealth Games sports to give them the inside track on the Games.

The group of 126 athletes and their coaches will not compete in Glasgow 2014, but will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes view of what it’s like to be involved in an international multi-sport Games, through a

Mentoring young athletes to achieve their sporting ambitions In October, former Scotland rugby captain Gavin Hastings launched an exclusive programme developed to inspire, coach and motivate Scotland’s next generation of star athletes.

programme of training and mentoring, led by experienced practitioners from across Scottish sport. The recruitment process for Achieve athletes is due to complete by the end of March 2014.

The ultimate aim of the programme is to propel youngsters onto sporting success at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in St Lucia and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

Jade Nimmo under the watchful eye of Gavin Hastings

The Achieve programme has a proven track record, having been first rolled out at the Delhi Games in 2010. Many of the 28 athletes involved have gone on to greater sporting success, with several tipped for selection for Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014 and several of the 2010 coaches and mentors will also play a prominent role with Team Scotland next summer.

The Achieve 2014 programme was officially launched at Scotstoun Stadium by Achieve 2014 ambassador Gavin Hastings along with athletes Jade Nimmo (Long Jump), Georgina Black (Weightlifting) and Michael Bremner (Hockey). Each of the athletes went through the Achieve programme in 2010 and are either selected or hopeful of being selected for Glasgow 2014.

Achieve 2014 Programme Director Alan Lynn said: “The inaugural programme in Delhi was a great success and thanks to the support of Search Consultancy, the continued investment and delivery of Achieve 2014 will further support our best young athletes and aspiring coaches at a key stage in their personal development. I believe the knowledge and experience they’ll gain as part of this programme will be the ideal preparation, enabling them to represent Scotland with distinction at future Commonwealth Games.”

CGS and Search Consultancy are working in partnership to further develop and enhance the programme, ensuring it provides the best possible support to Scotland’s next generation of sporting stars.

Energy company SSE has selected track stars Eilidh Child and sprinter Libby Clegg as they go for gold at Glasgow 2014. They will link with Scottish Hydro to encourage the public to support Team Scotland all the way to the Games.

Law firm, Harper Macleod, has announced Para-Sport athlete Samantha Kinghorn as the firm’s Athlete Ambassador ahead of next year’s sporting spectacular. Sammi, 17, is one of Europe’s leading wheelchair racers.

International IT services company, Atos has linked up with the technology driven sport of triathlon. Two of Scotland’s leading

Athletes to front up sponsor campaigns As Glasgow 2014 and Team Scotland sponsors finalise their activation plans for next year’s Games there was good news for a number of prospective Team Scotland athletes who have been identified as athlete ambassadors.

Triathletes David McNamee (25) and Marc Austin (19), will work with the Atos team to amplify the company’s partnership with the Games and highlight the importance and relevance of information technology in athletic and business performance.

Other Athlete Ambassadors are Lynsey Sharp, working with Dell, and Kirsty Gilmour and James McCallum, supporting NVT.

Jon Doig, CGS Chief Executive and Team Scotland Chef de Mission, said: “We are delighted that a number of our sponsors have extended their support through athlete ambassador initiatives. We have

a host of amazing athletes who ably demonstrate how through a combination of talent, hard work and a passion for what they do, coupled with mental and physical resilience they can achieve their goals. There are great synergies here for business and I know that our athletes will do themselves, their sports and the team proud in these roles.”

Atos launch the Athlete Ambassador Programme with Steve Cram and triathletes Marc Austin and David McNamee

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COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCOTLAND OFFICIAL PARTNERS

COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCOTLAND OFFICIAL SUPPORTERS

Commonwealth Games Scotland, Gannochy Sports Centre, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LATel: +44 (0)1786 466480 Fax: +44 (0)1786 466481 Email: info@cgcs.org.uk www.cgcs.org.uk

MAJOR SUPPORTER:

Key dates10–11 January (2014) Team Camp, Stirling

15 May Selection period closes/final nominations

12 June Team Scotland, Glasgow 2014 announced

5-6 & 7-22 July Team Camp / Preparation Camp, Stirling

13 July Athletes’ Village opens

23 July – 3 August Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

23 July Opening Ceremony, Celtic Park, Glasgow

3 August Closing Ceremony, Hampden Park, Glasgow

15 August Post-Games Athletes’ Parade, Glasgow

#1 Commonwealth Games Association on TwitterWith seven social media platforms, a website and a microsite, the digital arm of Team Scotland’s communication strategy has stepped up a gear in recent months.

Team Scotland is the most followed Commonwealth Games Association on Twitter, with its following growing week on week. This support is continually increasing as a result of a high level of interaction with the Scottish public.

Google+ and LinkedIn are the most recent social media platforms to be launched, consolidating a wide variety of opportunities for the public to connect with the team. These platforms are providing unique and interesting content, enabling the public to share the Glasgow 2014 journey.

GoScotland.org has also seen an exciting new development – ‘Meet the Team’. With 36 athletes now selected, Meet the Team is an athlete biographies section profiling every selected team member. Providing information from career highlights to favourite superheroes, this section provides fun and useful information.

Explaining these new development, James Saker, CGS Digital Media Manager said: “Digital and specifically social media is proving to be a key communication channel connecting the team with a wide range of people. With the age range of social media users continually broadening, our offering has been adapted to cater for the interests of all. The secret of this is definitely understanding each platform’s audience. Now the real challenge is converting those followers to fans and those fans to unofficial ambassadors of the team, who fully support our athletes on their journey to Glasgow.”

Look out in early 2014 for our exciting range of new athlete images!

Photo credits: Alistair Devine; Chris Radburn/PA Wire; Getty Images; Leslie Roy; Duncan McEwan; Tennis Scotland; Warren Media; Martin McCready